Planning permission for a new technical skills college at London Stansted Airport (in Essex) is being sought by the airport and Harlow College.

The scheme has been offered two separate £3.5 million grants — from the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund and Essex County Council.

If the project goes ahead, construction work will start in the autumn, and the £11 million college will be open in late September 2018. More than 500 young people and adults will attend the college each year.

The courses will cover aircraft and airport engineering, business studies, logistics and supply-chain management.

Stansted chief executive Andrew Cowan said: “Securing, developing and retaining the right talent and skills at a growing airport like Stansted is critical to our business, our 200 on-site business partners and the long-term prosperity of our region.

“Over the last two years, we have worked in close partnership with Harlow College and Essex County Council to develop and deliver an on-site further-education facility that will help to address the growing skills gap in areas like engineering and logistics and develop a pipeline of employees fit for future growth at the airport.

“If the planning application is successful, we will all play our part in making this facility a beacon of skills and talent in the East of England.”